Asia Pacific

Clean Energy_Benelux_181

Corporate Sourcing of Renewables Growing, Taking Place in 75 Countries

Companies in 75 countries actively sourced 465 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable energy in 2017, an amount close to the overall electricity demand of France, according to the report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). With the continued decline in the costs of renewables, the report suggests, corporate demand will continue to increase as companies seek to reduce electricity bills, hedge against future price spikes and address sustainability concerns.

Emerging Markets_181

Wind: China Maintains Emerging Markets Top Spot Following 19.7GW Build Boom

Wind industry intelligence service A Word About Wind has launched its Emerging Markets Attractiveness Index report for 2018, which provides insight and analysis into the most attractive emerging markets for wind companies. The index, now in its second year, ranks the top 30 emerging markets that investors should consider when investing in wind in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The list considers factors including political and economic stability for investors, alongside the growth of electricity demand and potential for wind growth, in order to rank the countries by overall potential. As with last year’s report, China tops the list and the ongoing trade war with the US shows no sign of slowing China’s formidable growth.

Clean Energy_Innovation_181

Battery Boom: Wind And Solar Can Generate Half Of Worldwide Electricity By 2050

Coal is to shrink to just 11% of global electricity generation by mid-century, from 38% now, as costs shift heavily in favour of wind, solar and batteries. Wind and solar are set to surge to almost “50 by 50” – 50% of world generation by 2050 due to reductions in cost. “Cheap battery storage means that it becomes increasingly possible to finesse the delivery of electricity from wind and solar so that these technologies can help meet demand even when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. The result will be renewables eating up more and more of the existing market for coal, gas and nuclear.”

Senvion_Wind_181

Senvion Consolidates With Bhuj Wind Farm: Total Order Book In India Exceeds 1GW

Senvion has signed a conditional 300 MW contract with alfanar on the supply and installation of 131 Senvion 2.3M130 turbines for the Bhuj Wind Project. alfanar is one of the leading developers for clean energy in Asia, Africa and Europe. The wind project in Gujarat is part of the Round 5 bidding of Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited – a company of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

Monsoon_Vaisala_181

India: Improved Monsoon Winds Help Power Producers in 2018 

After a prolonged period of decline, wind speeds in India during the 2018 monsoon season were significantly higher than normal; and up to 20% higher than long-term averages in some regions. These higher wind speeds benefit wind farm production; welcome news for wind energy operators and investors, who have faced several years of lower-than-normal wind energy production during the monsoon period. These increased wind speeds can thus counter recent patterns of decline contributing to an increase in investor confidence with a data-driven approach.

Ingeteam Indian Certification_181

Ingeteam’s Indian Wind Converter Factory Achieves DNV GL Certification First

Ingeteam has announced that it received DNV GL’s “Shop Approval in Renewable Energy” certification for the wind converter manufacturing facility recently established by the company in the Tamil Nadu region. Its new facility is the first-ever wind converter factory to receive such a certification in India. DNV GL’s Shop Approval is awarded upon successful completion of a comprehensive audit and enables Ingeteam to simplify the scope of subsequent quality inspections. This next level certification guarantees that a workshop operates within a high-standard manufacturing environment and that adequate working procedures and methods are consistently deployed by qualified staff.

E-buses_182

E-Buses to Surge Even Faster Than EVs as Conventional Vehicles Fade

The electrification of road transport will move into top gear in the second half of the 2020s, thanks to tumbling battery costs and larger-scale manufacturing, with sales of electric cars racing to 28%, and those of e-buses (electric buses) to 84%, of their respective global markets by 2030. As the supply of cobalt emerges as a potential risk to the pace of growth in electrified transport over the next few years, the advance of e-buses will become more rapid than for electric cars, BNEF states.

ABB_aus_microgrid_182

ABB Microgrid In South Australia Strengths Power Grid And Improves Reliability

ABB will supply a microgrid solution to the Energy Storage for Commercial Renewable Integration (ESCRI) project, which will provide a more secure power supply in an area that has high renewable penetration into the grid. The solution will connect an ABB Ability PowerStore 30 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage solution to the Electranet transmission system enabling the value stacking of storage in the regulated energy market, improving power reliability. ABB has installed over 40 such global sites, serving remote communities, islands, utilities and industrial campuses.

Rooftop_Solar_PV_India_171

Rooftop PV Presents a $23 Billion Opportunity in India Over The Next 5 Years

India is accelerating development of renewable energy projects to provide cheap, reliable and clean power to its 1.3 billion people. The country’s per-capita on-grid electricity consumption has increased significantly over the four years; due to increased industrial activity, higher uptake of electrical appliances by residential electricity users and the addition of new consumers to the grid. During this period, the cost of electricity from rooftop PV has halved, due to fierce competition in the market and a drop in equipment prices. In contrast, average retail electricity rates have increased by 22% in the same period. This has made rooftop PV cheaper than commercial and industrial grid tariffs in all major states in India.

Vestas_Bolivia_181

Vestas Strengthens In India. Wins 250 MW Wind Project: Its Largest Order To Date

Vestas’ has just gained strength in a strategically significant market for the company. Its extensive experience from around 4 GW of turnkey projects across the globe has secured its largest project in India to date. The record order was placed by Ostro Kutch Power Private Limited and awarded through India’s first wind power auction held in February 2017. The 250 MW turnkey order follows another 100 MW turnkey project in India earlier this year, taking the total order intake in India to more than 480 MW in 2017. The project starts in the third quarter of 2018, and includes delivery, installation, commissioning and servicing of the 125 turbines.

Rooftop Solar_India_172

Tata Power Solar Commissions India’s First Rooftop Solar Carport In Delhi

Tata Power Solar set another landmark by commissioning an unprecedented rooftop solar project in India – a solar carport on the rooftop of the sprawling 70,000 sq.m Unity One mall, in Rohini, Delhi. The unique rooftop carport is estimated to set off 438 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The company won the bid in an open tender process fielded by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for multi-level car parking. The project enables the mall to earn on the unused and excess solar electricity produced. It also cuts down the need to install a second meter or an expensive battery storage system as it is directly connected to the local power grid.